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Why Ping-Pong Star
Had to Spend a Week
In a Cucumber Patch

Rowdy Chinese Player Got
A Taste of the Simple Life;
Shades of Mao Zedong

By

Shai Oster

Updated Aug. 17, 2006 12:01 a.m. ET

PANTAO, China -- When Chen Qi, a 23-year-old Chinese ping-pong star, lost both a televised match and his temper in March, his coaches drew inspiration from the past.

Harking back to China's Cultural Revolution, they arranged a stint in the countryside to instill in the Olympic hopeful "the quality of trial and adversity." For a week, Mr. Chen clumsily tried to weed cucumbers while hundreds of farmers gathered around to gawk and shout advice. "This is a pilot project. If it works, I'll send the whole team...